Electronic transformer

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to electronic converters having an input circuit and an output circuit which, in addition to their converter function, carry out power-factor correction. They comprise a control circuit which opens and closes an electronic switch, to be precise as a function of the output voltage from the converter circuit and the voltage which is dropped across a current measurement sensor. The invention is distinguished in that the circuit has a logic ground LM and a power ground PM at different electrical potentials.

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic converter having an input circuit and an output circuit, which are connected to one another via an inductive coupling, with the output circuit having a first and a second output terminal between which an output voltage can be produced, and with the input circuit having a first and a second input terminal for connection of a voltage source which has at least one DC voltage component, a series circuit which is arranged in series between the first input terminal and a first connection of the inductive coupling and comprises an inductance and a capacitor, with the junction point between the inductance and the capacitor being connected via an electronic switch to the second input terminal, and with the inductance being arranged between the junction point and the first input terminal and the capacitor being arranged between the junction point and the inductive coupling, having a sensor resistor which is arranged between the second input terminal and the second connection of the inductive coupling, and having a control circuit to which at least the output voltage and the voltage which is dropped across the sensor resistor can be supplied as input signals, with the control circuit opening and closing the switch as a function of the input signals supplied to it.

[0002] The invention furthermore relates to an electronic converter having an input circuit and an output circuit which are connected to one another via an inductive coupling with the output circuit having a first and a second output terminal, between which an output voltage can be produced, and the input circuit having a first and a second input terminal for connection of a voltage source which has at least one DC voltage component, a series circuit, which is arranged in series between the second input terminal and a first connection of a sensor resistor and comprises an inductance and a capacitor, with the junction point between the inductance and the capacitor being connected via a diode to the second connection of the inductive coupling, the second connection of the sensor resistor being connected to the first connection of the inductive coupling, and the inductance being arranged between the junction point and the second input terminal and the capacitor being arranged between the junction point and the first connection of the sensor resistor, an electronic switch which is arranged between the first input terminal and the first connection of the sensor resistor, a storage capacitor which is arranged between the first input terminal and the second connection of the inductive coupling, a control circuit, to which at least the output voltage and the voltage dropped across the sensor resistor can be supplied as input signals, with the control circuit opening and closing the switch as a function of the input signals supplied to it.

[0003] Converters such as these are suitable, inter alia, for operation of low-voltage incandescent lamps and optical semiconductors, for example light-emitting diodes (LED) and the like.

PRIOR ART

[0004] Circuits such as these are known and are used in the prior art, for example, as DC/DC converters with power levels up to 100 W. The control circuit is generally in the form of a PWM-IC, which monitors current and voltage, while the electronic switch is formed by a vertical power MOSFET.

[0005]FIG. 1 shows three embodiments of such topologies, with FIG. 1a showing a so-called BIFRED (Boost Integrated Flyback Rectifier Energy Storage DC/DC Converter) converter, FIG. 1b showing a so-called BIBRED (Boost Integrated Buck Rectifier Energy Storage DC/DC Converter) converter and FIG. 1c showing a so-called PFC Flyback Converter (PFC=Power Factor Correction).

[0006] From the year 2001, the mains current harmonics for all lighting devices will have to comply with IEC 1000-3-2. So-called PFC circuits are used for this purpose in the prior art. Described in simple terms, the PFC is adequate, provided the current drawn from the mains is proportional to the mains voltage. The circuits illustrated in FIGS. 1a to 1 c are merely higher-order single-ended converters, and need to have additional PFC circuits connected to them on the input side for this purpose.

[0007] First of all, however, the circuits in Figures 1 a to 1 c will be described in more detail. The input side of the BIFRED and BIBRED converters is in this case constructed identically, as follows: an input voltage UE, which has at least a DC voltage component, is applied between two input terminals. The first input terminal is optionally followed by a diode D1 and an inductance L1. A parallel circuit is arranged between a first junction point VP1, which follows the inductance L1, and a second junction point VP2, one branch of which parallel circuit comprises a series circuit formed from an electronic switch S1 and a shunt resistor RS. The second parallel branch comprises a capacitor C1 and an inductance L2. The shunt resistor RS is used to determine a variable which is approximately proportional to the load current, to be precise in the form of a voltage US which is supplied to the control circuit ST which controls the switch S1. Provided the current flowing through RS is greater than a specific value, the switch S1 is opened, in order to prevent damage to the circuit itself and to circuits connected on the secondary side. The BIFRED converter illustrated in FIG. 1a has an inductance L3 on its secondary side, and, together with the inductance L2, this forms a two-winding storage coil. A diode, D2 is arranged in series with the inductance L3. A voltage U_(A) is produced at the output terminals, with a capacitor C2 being arranged between the output terminals.

[0008] The BIBRED converter illustrated in FIG. 1b has an inductance L3 on its secondary side, and, together with the inductance L2, this forms a pure AC transformer. A capacitor C2 is arranged in series with the inductance L3, with the series circuit formed in this way being in parallel with a diode D2. The parallel circuit formed in this way is in turn arranged in series with an inductance L4. A capacitor C3 is arranged between the output terminals, at which the output voltage U_(A) is produced.

[0009] The PFC Flyback Converter illustrated in FIG. 1c likewise comprises an input formed by two input terminals and to which a voltage U_(E) is applied. One input terminal is followed by a diode D1 and an inductance L1. The junction point between D1 and L1 may be connected via an optional capacitor C1 to ground. The inductance L1 is followed firstly by the series circuit formed by a diode D2 and an inductance L2, and secondly by a capacitor C2. The junction point between D2 and L2 is connected via a capacitor C3 to ground. A diode D4 may optionally also be connected to this junction point, with its second connection being connected to the junction point between the diode D1 and the inductance L1. The junction point between L2 and C2 is connected to ground via a switch S1 and a shunt resistor RS. The voltage US which is dropped across the shunt resistor RS is used as the input signal to a control circuit ST, which in turn controls the switch S1. The secondary side of the PFC Flyback Converter comprises an inductance L3 which, together with the inductance L2, forms a two-winding storage coil, with a diode D3 and a capacitor C4 likewise being connected in this case, see FIG. 1a, and in which case the voltage which is dropped across the capacitor C4 can be tapped off as the output voltage U_(A). Alternatively (not illustrated), the secondary side can also be designed in a manner corresponding to the secondary side in FIG. 1b. The respective ground is annotated M in FIGS. 1a to 1 c.

[0010]FIG. 2 shows the basic structure, which is known from the prior art, of a PFC: this comprises a capacitor C, an inductance L and a switch S.

[0011] The object of the present invention is to provide electronic converters which do not require any additional control or any additional switches in comparison to electronic converters without PFC, in order to form an electronic converter with PFC.

[0012] This object is achieved by an electronic converter having the features of Patent claim 1, and by an electronic converter having the features of Patent claim 8.

[0013] The invention is based on the idea of isolating the reference potentials of the control circuit on the one hand and the PFC on the other hand from one another.

[0014] The respective topology is converted in such a manner that the current measurement sensor (Shunt, RS) is connected to the load exclusively in series with the primary side. In this case, it may be necessary for the PFC to be oriented to the positive and/or for the control circuit to be at a high-frequency potential. In this way—in contrast to the prior art—the current measurement is not interfered with in any way by signals from the PFC or from any other low-loss snubbers (generally tuned circuits).

[0015] Finally, the reference potential of the control circuit is preferably designed such that, when the switch is switched on, and with the switch being, in particular, a power transistor, a positive measurement signal is applied to the current measurement input of the control circuit. The sequence of the primary side of the load, the reference potential of the control circuit and the current measurement sensor may in this case be as required. The reference potential of the control circuit may thus also be located between the current measurement sensor and the primary side of the load.

[0016] In one particularly advantageous variant of the invention, the current measurement sensor is bridged by a diode, in particular a Schottky diode, in such a manner that no negative signals can be applied to the current measurement input of the control circuit.

[0017] Further advantageous developments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail in the following text with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0019]FIG. 1a shows a so-called BIFRED converter as is known from the prior art;

[0020]FIG. 1b shows a so-called BIBRED converter as is known from the prior art;

[0021]FIG. 1c shows a so-called PFC Flyback converter as is known from the prior art;

[0022]FIG. 2 shows the basic structure, which is known from the prior art, of a PFC circuit;

[0023]FIG. 3a shows an electronic converter according to the invention, which is based on the known BIFRED circuit;

[0024]FIGS. 3b-e show illustrations of the converter from FIG. 3a, with different current paths being emphasized;

[0025]FIG. 3f shows an electronic converter according to the invention, which is based on the BIBRED circuit;

[0026]FIG. 3g shows an electronic converter according to the invention, which is based on the PFC Flyback circuit; and

[0027]FIG. 4 shows the time profile of the currents I_(L1) , I_(S1) and I_(D2) for the circuit arrangement shown in FIG. 3a.

[0028] The electronic converter circuits according to the invention illustrated in FIG. 3 are based on the electronic converter circuits illustrated in FIG. 1, with corresponding components being annotated with corresponding reference symbols, and these will therefore not be explained once again. The idea according to the invention is implemented in the electronic converters shown in FIG. 3 by each circuit having a separate logic ground LM and a separate power ground PM.

[0029] In the circuit variants shown in FIGS. 3a and 3 f , the junction point between the sensor resistor RS, which in this case carries out the task of the current measurement sensor, and the second connection of the inductive coupling L2 is connected to a logic ground LM, while the second input terminal is connected to a power ground PM. In the electronic converter shown in FIG. 3g, the idea according to the invention is implemented in that the junction point between the sensor resistor RS and the first connection of the inductive coupling L2 is connected to a logic ground LM, while the first input terminal is connected to a power ground PM.

[0030] Surprisingly, this circuit measure means that the respective converter not only carries out its conversion task but also PFC. This will be described in the following text using the example of the circuit arrangement shown in FIG. 3a in conjunction with FIGS. 3b to 3 e and FIG. 4:

[0031] For this purpose, the current paths of the currents I_(L1)and I_(M) are emphasized in FIGS. 3b to 3 e. In FIG. 4, the time profile of the current I_(L1) through the inductance L1, I_(S1) through the switch S1, I_(D2) through the diode D2 and I_(M) are plotted against time. One cycle extends over the times 0 to T. In this case, the time profile of the current I_(L1) in FIG. 4 corresponds to the emphasized current paths in FIGS. 3b and 3 d (primary circuit only), the time profile of the current I_(S1) corresponds to the emphasized current paths in FIGS. 3b and 3 c, and the time profile of the current I_(D2) corresponds to the emphasized current paths in FIGS. 3d (secondary circuit only) and 3 e.

[0032] The times 0 to t are defined as follows:

[0033] Time 0: switch S1 on

[0034] Time period between 0 and t₁: S1 and D1 on U_(L1)=|U_(E)|; U_(M)=U_(C1); the currents I_(L1) and I_(M) are added in S1.

[0035] Time t₁: switch S1 off

[0036] Time period between t₁ and t₂: D1 and D2 on U_(L1)=|=U_(E)|−U_(C1)−U_(A); the currents I_(L1) transmitted by transformer action and the stored current I_(M) are added in D2.

[0037] Time t₂: D1 switches off

[0038] Time period between t₂ and t₃: D2 on U_(L1)=0; U_(M)=−U_(A)

[0039] Time t₃; D2 switches off

[0040] Time period between t₃ and T: quiescent phase; no current flows; indication of intermittent operation.

[0041] To simplify the verification process, the following assumptions are made: U_(A)=const; U_(C1)=const. Furthermore: U_(A)<U_(C1). The turns ratio of the inductance coupling is 1:1.

[0042] The relationships within one half-cycle of the mains voltage and during intermittent operation are in each case as follows: ${{t \leq {t_{1}:I_{L\quad 1}}} = {\frac{U_{E}}{L\quad 1}t}};{{\hat{I}}_{LI} = {\frac{U_{E}}{L\quad 1}t_{1}}};$ ${{t > {t_{1}:I_{L\quad 1}}} = {{\frac{U_{E}}{L\quad 1}t_{1}} + {\frac{{U_{E}} - U_{C\quad 1} - U_{A}}{L\quad 1}\left( {t - t_{1}} \right)}}};$

[0043] Since, at the time t₂: I_(L1)=0, it follows that: ${t_{2} = {\frac{\left( {U_{c\quad 1} + U_{A}} \right)}{\left( {U_{c\quad 1} + U_{A} - {U_{E}}} \right)}t_{1}}};$

[0044] and, correspondingly: ${{t_{2} - t_{1}} = {\left( \frac{U_{E}}{U_{C\quad 1} + U_{A} - {U_{E}}} \right)t_{1}}};$ ${I_{E}} = {{\frac{1}{T}{\int_{0}^{T}{{IL1}\quad {t}}}} = {{\frac{\hat{I}L_{1}}{2T}\left( {t_{1} + t_{2} - t_{1}} \right)} = {{\frac{U_{E}}{2{L1T}}t_{1}t_{2}} = {\frac{U_{E}}{2{L1T}}{t_{1}^{2}\left( \frac{U_{C\quad 1} + U_{A}}{U_{C\quad 1} + U_{A} - {U_{E}}} \right)}}}}}$

[0045] To a first approximation, it follows from this that:

|I _(E) |˜|U _(E)| and |I _(E) |˜t ₁ ²

[0046] |I_(E)|˜|U_(E)| itself indicates here that the circuit is providing PFC in addition to its actual converter function.

[0047] If it can be shown that the output current I_(A) is proportional to the input current I_(E), then this confirms that the circuit is also carrying out its converter function, despite the PFC function.

[0048] On the other hand, for t<t₁: ${I_{M} = {\frac{U_{E}}{L\quad 2}t}};{{\hat{I}}_{M} = {\frac{U_{E}}{L\quad 2}t_{1}}};$

[0049] For t>t₁: ${I_{M} = {{\frac{U_{E}}{L\quad 2}t_{1}} - {\frac{U_{A}}{L\quad 2}\left( {t - t_{1}} \right)}}};$

[0050] Since I_(M) is equal to 0 at the time t₃, this means that: ${t_{3} = {\frac{U_{C\quad 1} + U_{A}}{U_{A}}t_{1}}};$

[0051] and, in a corresponding manner ${t_{3} - t_{1}} = {\frac{U_{C\quad 1}}{U_{A}}{t_{1}.}}$

[0052] On the other hand: $\begin{matrix} {I_{A} = \quad {{\frac{1}{T}{\int_{0}^{T}{I_{D\quad 2}\quad {t}}}} = {{\frac{1}{T}{\int_{t\quad 1}^{t\quad 2}{I_{L\quad 1}\quad {t}}}} +}}} \\ {\quad {{\frac{1}{T}{\int_{t\quad 1}^{t\quad 3}{I_{M}\quad {t}}}} = {{{\frac{{\hat{I}}_{L\quad 1}}{2T}\left( {t_{2} - t_{1}} \right)} + {\frac{{\hat{I}}_{M}}{2T}\left( {t_{3} - t_{1}} \right)}} =}}} \\ {= \quad {{\frac{{U_{E}}t_{1}^{2}}{2L_{1}T}\left( \frac{U_{E}}{U_{C\quad 1} + U_{A} - {U_{E}}} \right)} + {\frac{U_{C\quad 1t\quad 1}^{2}}{2L_{2}T} \cdot \frac{U_{C\quad 1}}{U_{A}}}}} \end{matrix}\quad$

[0053] it can be seen from this that

I _(A) ˜t ₁ ² and I _(A) ˜|I _(E)|:

[0054] The energy balance within the converter is thus correct, and high efficiencies are possible.

[0055] In a further embodiment of the invention, which is not illustrated, the inductive coupling can also be provided by a single coil, at whose first connection the first connection of the primary is connected to the first connection of the secondary of the inductive coupling, and at whose second connection the second connection of the primary is connected to the second connection of the secondary of the inductive coupling. 

1. An electronic converter having an input circuit and an output circuit which are connected to one another via an inductive coupling (L2, L3), with the output circuit having: a first and a second output terminal, between which an output voltage (UA) can be produced; the input circuit having: a first and a second input terminal for connection of a voltage source (UE) which has at least one DC voltage component; a series circuit which is arranged in series between the first input terminal and a first connection of the inductive coupling and comprises an inductance (L1) and a capacitor (C1) with the junction point (VP1) between the inductance and the capacitor being connected via an electronic switch (S1) to the second input terminal, and the inductance (L1) being arranged between the junction point (VP1) and the first input terminal, and the capacitor (C1) being arranged between the junction point (VP1) and the inductive coupling (L2, L3) ; a sensor resistor (RS) which is arranged between the second input terminal and the second connection of the inductive coupling (L2, L3) ; a control circuit (ST), to which at least the output voltage and the voltage (US) dropped across the sensor resistor (RS) can be supplied as input signals, with the control circuit (ST) opening and closing the switch (S1) as a function of the input signal supplied to it; characterized in that the junction point (VP2) between the sensor resistor (RS) and the second connection of the inductive coupling (L2, L3) is connected to a logic ground (LM), and the second input terminal is connected to a power ground (PM), with the power ground and logic ground being at different electrical potentials.
 2. The electronic converter as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a diode (D1) is arranged between the first input terminal and the inductance (L1).
 3. The electronic converter as claimed in one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the inductive coupling (L2, L3) comprises a storage coil.
 4. The electronic converter, as claimed in one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the inductive coupling (L2, L3) has an AC transformer, with the primary (L2) of the AC transformer being part of the input circuit, and the secondary (L3) of the AC transformer being part of the output circuit.
 5. The electronic converter as claimed in one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that a series circuit comprising the secondary of the AC transformer (L3) and a capacitor (C2) is arranged in parallel with an output diode (D2).
 6. The electronic converter as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the output terminals are arranged in parallel with the capacitor (C2).
 7. The electronic converter as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the parallel circuit formed in this way is arranged in series with an inductance (L4), and the series circuit formed in this way is arranged in parallel with the output terminals and a second capacitor (C3) which is arranged in between.
 8. An electronic converter having an input circuit and an output circuit which are connected to one another via an inductive coupling with the output circuit having: a first and a second output terminal, between which an output voltage (U_(A)) can be produced; the input circuit having: a first and a second input terminal for connection of a voltage source (U_(E)) which has at least one DC voltage component; a series circuit, which is arranged in series between the second input terminal and a first connection of a sensor resistor (RS) and comprises an inductance (L1) and a capacitor (C2), with the junction point between the inductance (L1) and the capacitor (C2) being connected via a diode (D2) to the second connection of the inductive coupling (L2, L3), the second connection of the sensor resistor (RS) being connected to the first connection of the inductive coupling (L2, L3), and the inductance (L1) being arranged between the junction point and the second input terminal and the capacitor (C2) being arranged between the junction point and the first connection of the sensor resistor (RS); an electronic switch (S1) which is arranged between the first input terminal and the first connection of the sensor resistor (RS); a storage capacitor (C3) which is arranged between the first input terminal and the second connection of the inductive coupling (L2, L3) ; a control circuit (ST), to which at least the output voltage and the voltage (US) dropped across the sensor resistor (RS) can be supplied as input signals, with the control circuit (ST) opening and closing the switch (S1) as a function of the input signals supplied to it; characterized in that the junction point between the sensor resistor (RS) and the first connection of the inductive coupling (L2, L3) is connected to a logic ground (LM), and the first input terminal is connected to a power ground (PM), with the power ground and logic ground being at different electrical potentials.
 9. The electronic converter as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that a first input diode (D1) is arranged between the inductance (L1) and the second input terminal.
 10. The electronic converter as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the junction point between the first input diode (D1) and the inductance (L1) is connected via a capacitor (C1) to the first input terminal.
 11. The electronic converter as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the junction point between the first input diode (D1) and the inductance (L1) is connected via a second input diode (D4) to the second connection of the inductive coupling (L2, L3).
 12. The electronic converter as claimed in one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the inductive. coupling (L2, L3) comprises a storage coil.
 13. The electronic converter as claimed in one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the inductive coupling (L2, L3) has an AC transformer, with the primary (L2) of the AC transformer being part of the input circuit, and the secondary (L3) of the AC transformer being part of the output circuit.
 14. The electronic converter as claimed in one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that a parallel circuit comprising a capacitor (C4) and a series circuit formed by the storage coil (L3) and an output diode (D3) is arranged between the output terminals.
 15. The electronic converter as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a diode, in particular a Schottky diode, is arranged in parallel with the sensor resistor (RS). 